The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Quotations (415 page)
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Authors: Elizabeth Knowles
BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Quotations
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Steinbeck, John
1902–68
1902–68
1
Okie use' ta mean you was from Oklahoma. Now it means you're a dirty son-of-a-bitch. Okie means you're scum. Don't mean nothing itself, it's the way they say it.
Okie use' ta mean you was from Oklahoma. Now it means you're a dirty son-of-a-bitch. Okie means you're scum. Don't mean nothing itself, it's the way they say it.
The Grapes of Wrath
(1939) ch. 18
Steinem, Gloria
1934–
1934–
1
We are becoming the men we wanted to marry.
A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle.
We are becoming the men we wanted to marry.
in
Ms
July/August 1982
A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle.
attributed
Stendhal
1783–1842
1783–1842
1
A novel is a mirror which passes over a highway. Sometimes it reflects to your eyes the blue of the skies, at others the churned-up mud of the road.
I know of only one rule: style cannot be too
clear
, too
simple
.
A novel is a mirror which passes over a highway. Sometimes it reflects to your eyes the blue of the skies, at others the churned-up mud of the road.
Le Rouge et le noir
(1830) bk. 2, ch. 19
I know of only one rule: style cannot be too
clear
, too
simple
.
letter to Balzac, 30 October 1840
Stephen, J. K.
1859–92
1859–92
1
When the Rudyards cease from kipling
And the Haggards ride no more.
When the Rudyards cease from kipling
And the Haggards ride no more.
"To R.K." (1891)
Stephen, Leslie
1832–1904
1832–1904
1
The editor of such a work must, by the necessity of the case, be autocratic. He will do his best to be a considerate autocrat.
of the compilation of a dictionary of national biography
The editor of such a work must, by the necessity of the case, be autocratic. He will do his best to be a considerate autocrat.
of the compilation of a dictionary of national biography
in
Athenaeum
23 December 1882
Stephens, James
1882–1950
1882–1950
1
Finality is death. Perfection is finality.
Nothing is perfect. There are lumps in it.
I hear a sudden cry of pain!
There is a rabbit in a snare:
Now I hear the cry again,
But I cannot tell from where…
Little one! Oh, little one!
I am searching everywhere.
Finality is death. Perfection is finality.
Nothing is perfect. There are lumps in it.
The Crock of Gold
(1912) bk. 1, ch. 4
I hear a sudden cry of pain!
There is a rabbit in a snare:
Now I hear the cry again,
But I cannot tell from where…
Little one! Oh, little one!
I am searching everywhere.
"The Snare" (1915)
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